Don’t go on pruning in shear ignorance. While you buy through links on our site, we could earn an affiliate fee. Here’s how it really works. Using the most effective pruners feels easy and intuitive. You squeeze the handles, and the blades reduce the plant stem-it’s similar to using scissors. Just about anybody can prune - however you may take several simple steps to elevate your pruning method beyond that of the common gardener. The suitable technique and course of will maximize the advantages of pruning to your plant’s health and Wood Ranger Power Shears shop appearance. In distinction, a haphazard method may lead to pruning mistakes that hurt plants' health or harm your pruner. In this guide, I’ll explain a 5-step process for pruning effectively without harming your plants and trees. Two skilled gardeners will provide expert recommendation all through the walkthrough. Steve Swanborough is Henchman’s resident gardening knowledgeable, working intently with the crew at reveals corresponding to RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

Having beforehand labored as a private gardener in South London, Steve brings years of horticultural expertise to Henchman, and Wood Ranger Power Shears reviews is passionate about sustainable gardening practices. Before pruning, examine whether or not now is the best time to prune your plants or bushes. "Many plants are best pruned during their dormant season (often late winter to early spring) before new progress starts," says Henchman’s Steve Swanborough. "However, some flowering plants ought to be pruned right after they bloom, as they set the subsequent year’s buds immediately after flowering. "Look for signs like overgrown or leggy branches, crossing branches that rub against each other, or lifeless or diseased Wood Ranger Power Shears website. These are indicators that pruning is required. Additionally, thinning out dense areas to enhance air circulation might help forestall diseases," he adds. If in doubt, seek specific guidance on when to prune a selected plant species. You might discover it helpful to create a pruning calendar that will remind you when it’s time to prune every sort of plant or tree in your yard.

Your next step is to choose the proper pruner for the job. Bypass pruners and snips are one of the best-suited tools for pruning delicate plants, while anvil pruners and loppers are higher for pruning tree branches and thick plant stems. Pick the pruner that’s best suited to prune each plant. Before you begin pruning, check to ensure the blades of your pruner are sharp enough to chop cleanly. You’ll have to sharpen or change them if they're dull or broken. Finally, configure any settings or controls on the pruner. For example, some pruners have variable reducing width settings to swimsuit branches of various thickness. Morris Hankinson is the Founder and Managing Director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants. The company grows hedging plants throughout three nursery sites within the Weald of Kent, serving over 17,000 prospects annually. Now that your pruner is able to prune select the exact place you’ll reduce.

"Where to cut a department or stem depends very much on the plant, so all the time research and know what plant you are pruning," says Morris Hankinson of Hopes Grove Nurseries. "If in doubt, prune frivolously. Before you go forward and Wood Ranger Power Shears website cut, make certain you’re holding the pruner correctly. "Always hold your secateurs firmly together with your dominant hand, ensuring your thumb and fingers encircle the handles fully," says Steve. "Your grip must be strong yet relaxed to forestall hand fatigue. The slicing blade should face the plant, with the stationary hook on the opposite facet. Your pruner ought to usually minimize by the stem or branch cleanly and with comparatively little effort. If cutting is tough, do not try to pressure the blades by, as this can injury the device and strain your hand. "Instead, switch to a extra suitable tool like loppers or a pruning noticed for Wood Ranger Power Shears website thicker branches," says Steve. It’s typically okay to depart reduce plant matter on the soil in your backyard beds, the place it could actually launch nutrients and act as a mulch.